Marks Project Builds Local Skills, Aims to Reduce Poverty

The Marks Project is a community driven nonprofit operating in Marks, Quitman County, that is expanding local workforce development, youth enrichment and community services from a large county owned building. The program offers career and technical training in areas such as residential electrical wiring, welding, forklift operation and screen printing, alongside GED preparation and basic computer skills. Training is delivered in partnership with Coahoma Community College and Northwest Mississippi Community College to provide certified pathways into regional jobs.

Officials and program leaders say the combination of hands on trade instruction and basic academic skills is intended to reduce barriers to employment in the local labor market. The Marks Project has attracted grant support to fund youth programming, with backers that include FedEx through the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. That funding has supported summer enrichment programs, college visits and sports and skills camps designed to broaden career awareness for young residents.

The project occupies a prominent county owned facility and plans for phased improvements are underway. Future phases include converting ground floor space into a community center with tutoring and mentoring facilities so that training and youth services are co located, reducing transportation friction and increasing access for residents across Quitman County.

The local economic implications are significant for a small Delta town. By building human capital in place, the program aims to reduce the outflow of residents seeking training elsewhere, and to supply employers in the region with credentialed candidates for technical positions. Leveraging county owned assets and partnerships with community colleges also lowers startup costs and increases the potential for sustainable programming.

From a policy perspective the Marks Project illustrates how local governments and nonprofits can combine assets, grant dollars and postsecondary partnerships to address entrenched economic challenges. If scaled, similar models could complement state workforce initiatives and federal community development funds by focusing investments on facilities upgrades, certified training and youth pipelines. For Marks residents the project represents a practical step toward expanding job opportunities, strengthening community services and keeping economic activity in the Delta town.